2010 Warrnambool Classic & Cup Previews

The best greyhound racing happening around the country tonight will be at Warrnambool in Victoria as they host two great Group 2 features, headlined by the $60,000 Group 2 Warrnambool Classic (450m).

Eight impressive sprinters are ready to fight it out on the track tonight, including the hot pre-race favourite Cosmic Chief.

Cosmic Chief was battling for favouritism in the betting markets with the brilliant Proven Jett, but now sits as the one to beat after Proven Jett had to be scratched by distraught trainer Michael Carter.

Proven Jett has a minor tear to his chest muscle and will be out of action for a couple of weeks leaving him to miss tonight’s final.

Trained by Darren Brown, Cosmic Chief was super impressive in the qualifiers last week running a scintillating 25.37s from box one, and has already won in excess of $40,000 having won 11 of his 26 starts to date.

The striking white and black son of Brett Lee has drawn barrier three for tonight’s final, the speedy young star boasting an excellent strike rate wearing the white rug having won five and placed once in their six starts from three.

Lara-based trainer Brown has a tight stranglehold over the final tonight as Cosmic Chief is joined by three finalist kennelmates, Cosmic Brigid, Cosmic Planet and Cosmic Diva.

All four littermates are bred and raced by owner Brian Parkinson and are a product of brood bitch Cosmic Goddess’ first litter.

Cosmic Brigid, who placed a close second to Proven Jett in the opening qualifier last week, has drawn well on the rails and Cosmic Diva also has claims jumping from box seven despite being beaten by over eight lengths by Chunka Change last week.

Brown is the second trainer in the race’s history to prepare a quartet of finalists after prolific trainer Darren McDonald had Ace Hi Rumble and Perform Magic, who ran the quinealla, as well as Return The King and Where’s Hoover run in the 2005 Classic.

McDonald has no dogs in the Classic this year but has a trio of runners in the night’s other scheduled highlight, the $28,000 Group 2 Warrnambool Cup Final (450m).

Last year’s runner-up Gardam Prince (box four) and Goodesy drawn well on the outside in box eight are considered his best chances, and Nova Surf (box seven) also lines-up.

Meanwhile multiple Group 1 winner Fedex, who ran fourth last year, is Pearcedale trainer Jason Thompson’s sole chance of securing a successive hat-trick of Warrnambool Cups following his success with Hanify’s Impact last year and El Galo in 2008.

The Macey’s Bistro Warrnambool Classic Final is scheduled as race eight on tonight’s cracker 12-event programme and is due to jump at 9:38pm (VIC time) while the Warrnambool Cup takes place earlier in the night at 8:38pm as race six.